Improvement in hand corn-planters



JOHN W. OLELAND, OF NEVADA, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND CORN-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16 L932, dated April 13, 1875; application filed February 20, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. OLELAND, of Nevada, in the county of Vernon and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hand Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved hand corn-planter, partly in section to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention will first be fully described, and then pointed out in the claim.

A is a board or bar, about three feet long, three inches Wide, and half an inch thick. B is a board similar to the board A, and about one-third its length. 0 are two small plates, which are secured to the side edges of the lower ends of the boards A B by three screws or bolts, two of said screws or bolts being inserted in the edge of the longer board A, and one being inserted in the edge of the shorter board B, the single screws or bolts serving as a pivot to hinge the said board B. To the side edges of the boards A B are attached tapering strips D, of cloth or other flexible material, to form a channel or spout to conduct the seed from the dropping-slide to the ground. To the inner sides of the lower ends of the boards A B are attached iron or steel plates E, to enter the ground and form holes to receive the seed. To the inner side .of the upper end of the forward board B is pivoted the forward end of the dropping-slide F, which passes through a transverse slot in the board A, and in the case of the seed-box G, and rests and slides upon the bottom of said seed-box. In the middle part of the slide F is formed a hole of sufficient size to hold enough seed for a hill, and which enters the seed-box G when the slide F is pushed to the rearward, and becomes filled with seed, which seed falls into the space between the boards A B as the said slide is moved forward. The middle part of the slide F, from its dropping-hole to its rear end, is cut away, and the inner sides of the arms thus formed are grooved to receive the edges of the strip f, inserted in the slot, and secured in place by a bolt or screw, so that the size of the dropping-hole can be readily adjusted to drop any desired amount of seed at a time by adjusting the said strip f. The seed-box G is formed by attaching the edges of a strip of sheet metal, bent into semi-cylindrical form, to the side edges of the middle part of the board A, and supplying the receptacle thus formed with a bottom and cover. To the rear side of the upper end of the board A is attached the handle H, which is grooved longitudinally, or is perforated to receive the lever I, and has the upper part of its rear end cut away to receive the rear end of the lever I, which rear end is widened, and is so formed asto correspond with the form of the handle H. The lever I is pivoted to the handle H, and its forward end projects in front of the board A, and to its forward end is attached the upper end of the strap J. The strap J passes around a guide-roller, K, pivoted to the forward side of the board A, a little above the dropping-slide F, passes thence over the upper edge of the board B, and through a keeper, L, attached to the forward side of the board B, a little below its upper end. The strap J is secured in the keeper L by a wedge, M, so that thelength of the said strap J can be readily adjusted as required. The upper end of the board B is held out from the board A by two bow-springs, N, the ends of which are secured to the said boards A B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

1n nsin g the planter the handle H is grasped by the hand, and, by pressing downward with the outer part of the hand, the lever I will be operated to draw the upper end of the board B inward and force the slide F back into the seed-box G, then, by relaxing the grasp of the hand, the upper end of the board B and the slide F will be forced forward by the springs N, dropping the seeds into the space between the boards'A B. The plates E are then forced into the ground, and the lever I is again operated, to force the upper end of the board B and the droppingslide F to the rearward. This movement of the board B separates the plates E and allows the seed to drop into the ground. The planter is then raised from the ground, and, as it is being carried forwardto the place for the next hill, the hand is again relaxed, and the seed for the next hill is dropped into the space between the mad;

A B. The plates E are again thrust into the ground, and the seed for the hill is dropped into the ground, and so on.

Having thus described by invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- As an improvement in hand-planters, the pivoted handle I, combined with a grooved fixed handle, H, cut away at the rear, and a cord, J, passing under the pulley K, as shown and described, to enable the planter to be manipulated with one hand.

JOHN W. OLELAND.

Witnesses:

JAMES F. BARBER, GEo. H. FAIN. 

